Journal Prompt: Thankful List – Revisited

March 30, 2020

I hope this post finds everyone as healthy and safe as possible. I have been posting a bit more than usual (twice a week rather than once) with ideas I come up with to help myself though this time of telework and self-isolation.

I did this exercise back in 2011 and 2016 around Thanksgiving, but I thought with all that is currently going on in the world that I needed to start practicing gratitude more often and thought this would be a great way to jump start a daily gratitude practice.

If you wish to use my template, it is still available to download from the links at the end of this post.

I currently am using a stitched art journal, and decided to create this spread in it (shown below with the subpage sticking out).

I stopped and took photos along the way so I can show you how I work.

I started off using my own template (links below) and cutting it out, and used a glue stick to adhere it to a dyed coffee filter. I then glued it all to a piece of pink construction paper to make the color pop a bit, and cut it out. I had added a random page from an old 1700’s book to the middle of the spread, and I placed my template over it using a piece of pretty heart tape at the bottom.

I then decided to make a sub page using a window envelope that a bill came in on the far side of the spread. I put a vintage letter tab (with an H for Hope) on the back.

“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” – Cynthia Ozick

*“The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see.” – Mary Davis

Even if you do not want to create an art journal spread, I highly recommend that you start recording things you are thankful for regularly while we all navigate this uncertain time. There is always something there if you look for it!

If you are looking for more ways to structure your days while self-isolating, this article from Greater Good Magazine is a great place for more ideas.